Adjustable shank button holder attachment



Dec. 29, 1964 A. KRELL 3,163,135

ADJUSTABLE SHANK BUTTON HOLDER ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 25, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \[glli if? i. llqo A i I a 1 T i ii "E a: I i

1' i A l1 1 l l I IN V EN TOR. ADOLPH KRELL ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1964 A. KRELL ADJUSTABLE SHANK BUTTON HOLDER ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ADOLPH KRELL BY ATTORNEY Filed Aug. 25, 1961 United States Patent Ofifice 3,163,135 Patented Dec. 29, 1964 3,163,135 ADJUSTABLE SHANK BUTIGN HOLDER ATTACHMENT Adolph Krell, 13727 Moccasin St., La Puente, (Ialif. Filed Aug. 25, 1961, Ser. No. 133,932 4 Claims. (Cl. 112-414) This invention relates to a button holder attachment for sewing machines and particularly to an adjustable shank button holder attachment for sewing machines.

Shank button-holder attachments commonly in use at the present time, particularly in production sewing operations, are specially designed, for a single type of shank button. As there are many thousands of shank button styles and sizes, it is readily apparent that the present need for a special button holder for each different size and style of shank button involves considerable expense not to mention delays and time lost in the design, fabrication and acquisition of special button holders. In addition, the service of a shop-mechanic are ordinarily required to install and adjust conventional shank button holdersduring which time there is an obvious loss of time to the operator.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an adjustable shank button holder capable of holding all sizes and styles of shank buttons.

A further object of this invention is to provide a shank button holder capable of being adjusted by anyone having even the most elementary of mechanical aptitudes and which does not require the services of a sewing machine mechanic for installation and adjustment.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a button sewing machine illustrating the use of the shank button holder of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged isometric view showing the improved shank button holder of this invention taken from the left side of the machine on the side opposite the operator.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged isometric view showing the improved shank button holder of this invention taken from the left side of the machine on the operators side.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is shown in place on a button sewing machine which comprises a supporting base 1, a bed 2, standard 3, bracket-arm 4, and bracket arm head 5, within which is supported a reciprocating and laterally vibrating needle-bar 6, carrying a needle 7. The bed is provided with a forwardly extending work-supporting bar 2a within which is mounted lower stitch forming mechanism which cooperates with the needle in the formation of stitches. Apparatus for needle actuation and lower stitch forming means are conventional and unnecessary to the understanding of the present invention and, hence, have not been illustrated and described.

The improved shank button holder of my invention comprises a supporting arm 8, pivotally hinged to a portion of the sewing machine by attachment to angle piece 9, pivoted at 10. The forward end of arm 8 is provided with a turned down portion 8a adapted to receive vertical slide 12. Slide 12 is adapted to receive horizontal slide 13 which is provided with a projecting foot 14. Set screws 12a and 13a and 131) are provided to hold slides 12 and 13 in place after alignment. A pair of shank holders 15a and 15b are slidably mounted on foot 14. The jaws 11a and 11b of shank holders 15a and 15b are preferably notched as shown and cut out as shown to more readily accommodate the shank. Spring 16 is provided to urge the jaws of shank holders 15a and 15b together. Threaded pin 17 is threaded through an unthreaded hole 18 in vertical projection 19 on shank holder 1512 into vertical projection 25 on shank holder 15a. Spring 21 is positioned around pin 17 between the head 22 of pin 17 and vertical projection 19. Spring 21 also urges shank holders 15a and 1512 together tending to keep shank holders 15a and 15b in correct parallel alignment, preventing binding and maximizing the contact area of jaws 11a and 11b. Set screw 23 is provided to prevent displacement of shank holders 15a and 15b on foot 14. Adjustment of pin 17 permits adjustment of the spring tension urging shank holders 15a and 15b together to accommodate various shank sizes. It will be observed that the design of my invention is such that at no time can the shank button holder and foot assembly interfere with the passage of cloth underneath.

Cooperating with shank holders 15a and 15b to hold shank buttons in place, is an arm portion 25 provided with a concave button-engaging head 27 adapted to engage the head of a shank button to hold the shank in alignment with the shank holders 15a and 15b.

The arm portion 25 constitutes one portion of a two part spring loaded lever, adjustably mounted to permit adjustment on the second portion 26 which is in turn mounted upon a shoulder screw 28. Screw 28 is fastened into the downturned portion do of supporting arm 8. The forward end of screw 28 projects through slot 28a in arm portion 25. A nut 2? threaded onto screw 28 clamps arm portion 25 to arm portion 26 and permits adjustment to any desired position to accommodate shank buttons of varying thickness.

The arrangement and configuration of parts on the foot portion of the shank button holder is designed to avoid obstructions or protuberances on the underside of the button holder in order to facilitate the free passage of cloth underneath during the sewing operation.

Arm portion 26 and arm portion 25 are adapted to be rotated clockwise to release the button. The apparatus used for this purpose is conventional such as that shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,131,012, September 20, 1938, for a Button Sewing Machine, by McCann.

It will be apparent that many modifications can be made in my shank button holder without departing from the scope of my invention. For example, three or more springs can be used rather than two to hold jaws 11a and 11]) together. Instead of using one spring in tension and one in compression, both can be in compression or both may be in tension.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the advantages inherent in my invention as compared with shank button holders currently available. The jaws of my shank button holder will accommodate a button shank of virtually any size with but only minor adjustments and yet provide positive and accurate positioning of the shank button for rapid and efficient sewing.

The shank holder of my invention in combination with a conventional button holder such as that described provides the ultimate in versatility of operation and efiiciency.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A shank button holder which comprises a foot which is adapted to be mounted on a supporting arm of a sewing machine, a pair of parallel jaws adapted to receive the shank of a shank button, means slidably mounting said jaws on said foot, means associated with one of said jaws adapted to prevent displacement of said one jaw on said foot and a plurality of parallel spring means aligned perpendicularly to each of said jaws adapted to urge said jaws together while maintaining said jaws in parallel alignment.

2. A shank button holder which comprises a foot which is adapted to be mounted on a supporting arm of a sewing machine, a pair of parallel jaws adapted to receive the shank of a shank button, means slidably mounting said jaws on said foot, adjustable means associated with one of said jaws adapted to prevent displacement of said one jaw on said foot, a plurality of parallel spring means aligned perpendicularly to each of said jaws adapted to urge said jaws together while maintaining said jaws in parallel alignment, in combination with spring lever means attached to said sewing machine adapted to engage the head of a shank button and maintain said shank button in proper position in relation to said jaws.

3. A shank button holder which comprises a foot which is adapted to be mounted on a supporting arm of a sewing machine, a pair of parallel jaws, adapted to receive the shank of a shank button, means slidably mounting said jaws on said foot, means associated with one of said jaws adapted to prevent displacement of said one jaw on said foot, a pin aligned perpendicularly in relation to said jaws passing through one of said jaws and threaded into the second of said jaws and a spring positioned around said pin between the head of said pin and the first of said jaws whereby the first jaw is urged by the spring toward the said second jaw, in combination with at least one other spring means adapted to urge said jaws together.

4. A shank button holder which comprises a foot which is adapted to be mounted on a supporting arm of a sewing machine, a pair of parallel jaws, adapted to receive the shank of a shank button, means slidably mounting said jaws on said foot, means associated with one of said jaws adapted to prevent displacement of said one jaw on said foot, a pin aligned perpendicularly in relation to said jaws passing through one of said jaws and threaded into the second of said jaws and a spring positioned around said pin between the head of said pin and the first of said jaws, whereby the first of said jaws is urged toward the second jaw, in combination with a spring in tension fastened to each of said jaws in parallel alignment with said pin.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS HICKEY, DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY,

Examiners. 

1. A SHANK BUTTON HOLDER WHICH COMPRISES A FOOT WHICH IS ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A SUPPORTING ARM OF A SEWING MACHINE, A PAIR OF PARALLEL JAWS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE SHANK OF A SHANK BUTTON, MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTING SAID JAWS ON SAID FOOT, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF SAID JAWS ADAPTED TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ONE JAW ON SAID FOOT AND A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL SPRING MEANS ALIGNED PERPENDICULARLY TO EACH OF SAID JAWS ADAPTED TO URGE SAID JAWS TOGETHER WHILE MAINTAINING SAID JAWS IN PARALLEL ALIGNMENT. 